Amusement device.



J. W. ARMITAGE.

AMUSEMENT navme.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2. 1916. 1,203,453.

Patented Oct. 31 1916.

(SHEETS-SHEET l- J. W. ARMITAGE.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE,

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, ms.

1,203,453. Patented Oct. 31,1916.

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Paten ted Oct. 31,1916.

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J. W.ARM|TAGE.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2. [916.

1 03,453. I Patented I Oct. 31, 1916.

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JAMES W. ARMI-TAGE, OF NORTH TONA'WANDA, NEW YORK.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Application filed May 2,

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, J AMES W. ARMITAGE, citizen .of the United States, residing at North 'llonawanda, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Amusement Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to amusement devices in which the passengers are seated in passenger carriers or cars which are slung from a. rotary member supported by a suitable frame in such away that when the rotary member is revolved the passenger carriers or cars will travel in a circular path through the air around the frame and the passengers seated in the cars or carriers will be given the illusion of traveling in an aeroplane.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple, strong and durable, and is of such construction that it can be readily and easily assembled and dismounted for transportation from one location to another.

Another object of the invention is to so mount the passenger carriers or cars relative to the central frame that the device can be set up and operated on a comparatively small plot of ground, which is of great practical advantage, as devices of this sort are ordinarily used at fairs, amusement parks and the like, where ground space is limited.

Other novel features of the invention are hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan of a device-embodying the invention, showing the passenger cars in the normal position ready to take aboard passengers. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation thereof on line 22, Fig. 1. Fig.

3 is a transverse sectional elevation thereof at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 2, showing one of the cars in the position occupied when revolving. Fig. 4 is a side elevation ,of the device with the cars and their supporting framework detached from the central rotary member and the device ready for transportation. Fig. 5 is a plan of the driving means used for rotating the car supporting member. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the car supporting frame and the means for supporting the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

1916. Serial n. 94,855.

cars thereon. Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 77, Fig. 6 on an enlarged scale.

The device comprises an upright frame or tower, preferably a two part skeleton frame, suitably mounted on a movable base, the upper portion of the frame'being hinged to the lower portion so that it can be swung to a substantially horizontal position when the device is dismounted for transportation, and a rotating frame or member which is supported by said upright frame and is preferably driven by power means carried on the same base as is the frame, and from which the passenger carrying cars are sus pended as hereinafter described.

VV-hen the rotating member is revolved the cars travel in a circular path through the air aroundthe supporting frame, the distance between the cars and the rotary member, depending upon the speed of revolution of the rotary member as is hereinafter more fully explained. When it is desired to transport the device from one place to another the cars and their supports can be readily dismounted and the upper portion of the framework and shaft swung into horizontal position so that the entire device can be readily carried on an ordinary fiat car.

The passenger cars are preferably provided with wings arranged to produce the impression of aeroplanes and the cars are so supported on the rotary member as to occupy a comparatively small space when at rest and at the same time to give the passengers the illusion of riding in an aeroplane when the cars are in motion.

8 represents a base or platform which is carried on wheels 9 and which acts as a support for a'skeleton frame or tower, the

lower section 10 of which is bolted or se-- cured in any other suitable manner. to the base. The upper section 11 of the frame is attached to the lower portion 10 thereof by means of hinges 12, so that such upper portion can be swung relatively to the lower portion into a substantially horizontal position when desired, as is hereinafter morev fully described. Opposite to the hinges 12 is located a detachable connection 13 which allows the upper section 10 of the frame to swing on the hinges relatively to the lower section and yet serves to normally hold the upper section in upright position. Any suitable form of connection for accomplishing this result may be used, such as a bolt adapted to fit within registering eye portions formed on the upper and lower sections of the tower.

14 represents a vertical drive shaft which is mounted within the skeleton frame on suitable bearings. 15 and 16 and which carries at the lower portion thereof the horizontal bevel gear wheel 17; This drive shaft is provided with a removable section 18 which is detachably connected with the upper and lower portions of the shaft in such a way that it can be removed to allow the upper section of the shaft, which is carried by section 11 of the frame, to move with the frame sect-ion when the latter is swung into horizontal position.

19 represents a. tubular bearing sleeve or member which is secured to the upper end of the shaft 14 by the bearing 15. This member is rotatably supported on the frame by this hearing and another bearing 20. While this method of supporting the tubular bearing member on the frame, and of connecting the shaft 14 therewith is preferred, any other suitable method may be used if desired. v

Power is transmitted to the drive shaft 14 by any suitable means. As shown in the drawings, a gas engine 21 or any other source of power is mounted on the base 8 of the device and power is transmitted from the engine to the drive shaft 14 by means of pulleys 22 and 23 connected by a suitable belt 24 and which are mounted respectively on engine shaft 25 and an auxiliary or counter shaft 26. The auxiliary shaft carries a pinion 27 which engages the toothed wheel 28 mounted on a short shaft 29, the latter also being provided with a beveled pinion gear 30 adapted to drive the wheel 17 of the drive shaft. While this method of driving shaft 14 is preferred, any other suitable power transmission means can be utilized.

31 represents a sprocket gear wheel mounted on the shaft 29 and connected by a chain 32 to a sprocket wheel which is preferably mounted on a shaft on the lower section 10 of the skeleton frame. The shaft carries a pinion 33 which is adapted to intermesh with a toothed segment 34 which is secured to the lower portion of the frame section 11. The chain 32 is ordinarily not kept in place, being used to connect the gear wheel and pin ion only when it is desired to swing the upper section of the frame relatively to the lower section.

WVhile the construction of the skeleton frame and power device is preferably as aforedescribed, any other suitable construction of these features, by which similar results are accomplished may be employed if preferred.

ings, a slotted holder or hub 41 is carried by the tubular bearing member, and the inner extremities of the arms 36 are detachably mounted in the slots in said holder. Any other suitable method of attaching the arms to the bearing member, however, can be utilized if it is sodesired. The arms 36 incline slightly upwardly from their point of support and are preferably connected and held in relative position to one another by the two series of brace members 37 and. 38. The car supporting bars 39 are mounted in sockets 42 and 43 attached respectively to the arms 36 and the outer brace members 38. The car supporting bars 39 constitute tracks and the sockets 42, 43 form stops at each end of the tracks for the purpose hereinafter set out. Any other suitable construction of track and stop members can, however, be used if preferred.

44 represents wire cords or cables which connect a cap 45 mounted on the top of the tubular bearing member with the car supporting frame 35 and act as a support for the latter. While any number of such supporting cables may be utilized and they may be secured to the upper portion of the tubular bearing member and the car supporting frame in any suitable manner, yet prefer ably as shown in the drawings, there are two cables provided for each of the radial arms at the points of connection of the arms and brace members. The annular section 40 is secured to the arms 36 and the outer brace members 38 in any suitable manner, as by of the device which are preferably built to simulate an aeroplane and have a main body portion 47 in which seats for the passen gers are arranged. The cars are preferably provided with a fixed wing or projection 48 extending laterally from the outer side of the body portion 47 and secured thereto by any suitable means and a movable wing or projection 49 which is pivoted or hinged to the inner side of the body portion as at 50. When the revolving frame is not rotating and the cars are at rest, the movable wing 49 is held in raised position bymeans of a wire or cord 51, one end of this wire being attached to the extremity of the wing and the other end secured in a suitable manner to the outer brace member 38. Such raised position of the wing prevents any interference thereof with the entry of the passengers into the cars. A spring 52 connects the wing with the body of the car for a purpose hereinafter disclosed.

53 represents cables or cords which serve to support the cars from the bars 39 and the lower ends of which are attached to the body portion 47 of the car in any suitable manner.

5% represents a wheeled carrier or support which preferably comprises side members 55 adapted to straddle the track 39 and connected by bolts 56, 57 and 58, the bolts 56 and 57 serving as journals for the spools 59. These spools have concaved faces adapted to rest upon the track 39 so that the carrier can travel to and fro thereon. The upper ends of the cables 53 are secured to the carrier in any suitable manner, as by securing them to the lower bolt 58 of the carrier. While the construction described is preferred, any other suitable construction of movable carrier can be used if desired.

Preferably the passenger cars or their supports are provided with oblique plane members of suitable construction and so mounted as to aid centrifugal force in swinging thecars outwardly from the parts of support when the rotary member is revolved. As shown in the drawings, such oblique plane members consist of strips of canvas or like material 60 which are obliquely mounted on the. cables 53 in such a way as not to interfere with the occupants of the cars. As shown a platform 61 is built around the clevice for the use of the passengers in entering the cars, although steps or short ladders can be used for this purpose if desired.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the car supporting member is not rotating the passenger cars are suspended from the framework in a vertical position with the carrier 54: supported on the track and resting against the inner stop. In this position of the cars the pivoted wing of the car body is held in raised position by means of the wire 51. After the passengers have entered the cars the gas engine or other power device is started and the wheel mem her is revolved by means of the power transmission mechanism. As the engine speed is gradually increased. centrifugal force aided by the pressure of the air against the oblique plane members 60 will tend to swing the cars outwardly and away from their points of support and the carrier 54 will travel outwardly on the track until further movement thereof is prevented by the outside stop. As the car swings outwardly the distance between the end of the pivoted wing and the extremity of the brace member will be lessened so that the wire 51 will be slackened and the spring 52 will then pull the wing into a position parallel with the fixed wing 48, thus increasing the illusion to the passengers of traveling in an'aeroplane. By reducing the speed of the engine the rapidity of rotation of the cars and the centrifugal force will be correspondingly decreased and when the cars are again in their vertical or rest positions the passengers can be disembarked.

By mounting the cars as heretofore described and providing them with the wing sections, a comparatively short central frame can be used and a minimum of ground space is required for setting up and operating the device, while the passenger receives a very good illusion of the swift flight through the air taken by an aeroplane.

\Vhen it is desired to transport the device the car supporting frame 35 is detached from the tubular bearing member 1-9 and the drive chain 32 is secured in place to connect the gear wheel 31 and sprocket 32. The section 18 is then removed from the drive shaft and connection 13 of the frame section is detached, and power is applied to revolve the shaft 29 in the manner heretofore described. As the shaft 29 is revolved the chain 32 drives the pinion 33 which in turn drives the toothed segment 34 causing the frame section 11 to swing gradually on its hinges 12 into a substantially horizontal position.

I claim as my invention 1. In an amusement device, the combination of a frame comprising a lower-section and an upper section hinged to the lower section to fold downwardly, means for nor mally holding the upper section in upright position, a rotating member carried by the frame, a sectional shaft supported by the frame adapted to drive the rota-ting member, means connecting said shaft sections to turn together and permit the upper section of the frame to fold on the lower section, means for driving said shaft, and passenger carriers suspended from said rotating member.

2. In a portable amusement device, the combination of a frame having a lower sec- .tion and an upper section hinged to the lower section thereof to fold downwardly, detach-able means for normally holding the upper section in upright position, a rotating member carried by the frame, a shaft supported by the frame and comprising detachably connected portions adapted to revolve the rotating member, means for driving said shaft, auxiliary means for folding the upper frame section downwardly, and passenger carriers suspended from said rotating member.

3. In an amusement device the combination of a rotating member, passenger carthe axis of rotation of said support, said supporting means being also movable bodily on said rotating member toward and from the center thereof.

4:. In an amusement device, the combination of a rotating member, passenger carriers and supporting means from which said carriers are suspended to swing and which are mounted on said rotating member to travel toward and from the center of rota tion thereof. 7

5. In an amusement device, the combination of a rotating member, passenger carriers, supporting means from which said carriers are suspended to swing and which are mounted on said rotating member to travel toward and from the center of rotation thereof, and means for limiting the movement of said supporting means on the rotating member.

6. In an amusement device, the combination of a rotating car supporting frame, passenger carrying cars, carriers mounted on said supporting frame to travel to and from the center of the supporting frame, and means for suspending the cars from the carriers, whereby the cars can swing relatively to the carrier.

7. In an amusement device, the combination of a rotary car supporting member having a track thereon and a carrier adapted to travel on said track, means for limiting the movement of the carrier on the track, a passenger-carrying car, means for suspending the car from the carrier, and auxiliary means for causing the car to swing outwardly when in motion.

8. In an amusement device, the combination of a rotary car supporting member having a track thereon and a carrier adapted to travel on said track, means for limiting the movement of the carrier on the track, a passenger-carrying car, means for suspending the car from the carrier, and a plane arranged obliquely to the direction of travel of the car for causing the car to swing outwardly when in motion.

9. In an'amusement device, the combination of a base, a frame supported thereon comprising a lower fixed section secured to the base and an upper movable section hinged to the lower section and adapted to fold downwardly, a rotary member supported by the frame, means for rotating said member, a car supporting frame carried by said member, passenger carrying cars, and means for suspending the cars from the supporting frame.

10. In an amusement device, the combination of a base, a frame supported thereon comprising a lower section secured to the base and an upper section hinged to the lower section and adapted to fold clownwardly, a rotary member supported by the frame, means for rotating said member, a

car supporting frame carried by said rotary member provided with a track portion, a carrier mounted on the track portion: of the frame to travel toward and from the center of the car supporting frame, a passenger carrying car, and means for suspending the car from the carrier.

11. In a transportable amusement device, the combination of a wheeled base and. a frame supported thereon, comprising a lower section secured to the base, an upper section hinged to the lower section and adapted to be swungvrelatively thereto, of means for normally holding the upper section in upright position, a rotary member supported by the frame, means for rotating the member, a car supporting frame carried by said member and comprising laterally extending arms, brace members, and track bars, carriers mounted to travel on the track bars, means for limiting the movement of.

the carriers on the track bars, passenger carrying cars, and means for suspending the cars from the carriers.

12. In an amusement device, the combination of a central standard, a rotating member carried by the standard, means for driving said rotating member, a frame attached to said rotating member comprising radially extending arms which are inclined upwardly from their point of support, braces connecting said arms, track bars joining the arms and the braces, carriers adapted to travel on said track, means for limiting the movement of the carriers on the track bars, auxiliary supports for the arms, and passenger carrying cars supported by said carriers.

13. In a portable amusement device, the combination of a base, a frame supported thereon comprising a lower section secured to the base and an upper section secured to the lower section and adapted to fold downwardly relatively thereto, with a rotating member carried by the frame, a vertical shaft carried by the frame sections comprising detachably connected sections, said shaft being secured to the rotating member and adapted to revolve the same, and means for driving the shaft and for swinging the upper section of the frame relatively to the lower section.

14. In an amusement device, the combination of a frame, a revolving member carried thereby, arms secured to the revolving mem-' her and extending radially therefrom, a

series of brace members connecting said arms, bars joining the arms and the outer brace members so arranged that each bar is parallel to one other bar, said bars forming tracks, carriers adapted to travel on said tracks and comprising side members which straddle the track bars and are con nected by bolts, spools carried by said bolts adapted to travel on the track bars, and

means for limiting the movement of the carmember supported at the outer extremities riers on the track bars. of the arms and the braces. 10 15. In an amusement device, the combina- \Vitness my hand this 25th day of April,

tion of a rotating member, a frame sup- 1916.

ported thereby comprising arms secured to JAMES W. ARMITAGE.

the rotating member, braces connecting said Vitnesses:

arms, bars forming tracks joining the arms ALBERT E. DIMOND,

and the brace members and an annular MILDRED J. PITMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G, 

